M series bumpers
Discussion
The issue revolving around solid bumpers is that after 'M' 72-73 bonnet/shell mould, (where they are designed to fit flush) the moulds gets changed to fit rubber bumpers, where the 73-75 have a fitting kit to mount them off the bonnet/shell AND THEN the Taimars/S have different moulds (where the rubber bumper will happily pull fit to either car) BUT when you offer up a solid item they in NO way do they fit flush to the rear of the car...I think that you would most likely end up having bespoke items made for each car.
Adrian@
Adrian@
Slow M said:
Could you do a design with a carriage bolt in a slot that would allow for the discrepancy?
Bernard, as I sell the solid fibreglass ones I can see the shell differences and how these fit to each model....my thoughts are that over the build period there were 2 versions of the Taimar shell and 2 versions of the S shell and they are defined by the floor pan version which have the late pedal boxes as my units fit better to later shells, regardless of which shell it is the holes need fettling to get them to fit AND the fit is, as is, rather than pulling up tight to the shell.Adrian@
Firstly, lets get the basic fact right, all the bumpers are more or less identical in terms of profile, all based on the original "cut and shut" Triumph 2000 chrome bumpers. Contrary to Adrian,s statement it is possible to make stainless(or inox for our foreign bretheren) which will "fit" all Adrians different body types. This is based on the fact that I have done it!
However it is VERY difficult and requires a little more thought than just replicating. The bumpers are made in 5 or 6 pieces. The problems are many. Firstly S/S work hardens when you wheel it to get the curved shape. This bad enough when you try to make the first curcature but the bumpers have some profiles which are double curvature, so when you try to make the second aspect it is incredibly difficult and very time consuming. Once you have made the component parts you then have to weld them all together, straighten them and grind and polish them to the correct shape. This requires 2 identical jigs to assemble and fabricate the parts you then have to "true" the end product. Do this 4 times "Precicely" to make a set and voila! Making the jigs alone is probably beyond the capabilities of most people and although I still own them you would need to make a LOT of bumpers out of them just to cover the cost of making them!
Given the obsession on these forums to save a few pence on things I doubt if it will ever happen on a small batch basis. I did a LOT of hours myself and employed an ex Rolls Royce time served coach builder at mates rates and given every builders labourer with little or no skill demands £200 a day in "ooooop north ingerland" what price would you like to pay. If I had the computer skills I would post a photo but as an "IT" luddite you will need to imagine the end results but they are stunning.
Continuing the good news, pre "M" series bumpers! Over the last 40 years not many weeks have gone by without a phone call asking for non existant Grantura/Vixen cast bumpers. Identifying a need I convinced a local foundry to make 4 completely different moulds to remake these. Lots of time and money invested and guess what? People wanted to buy the odd one, nobody wanted a new set complete and over the last 10 years I have sole exactly NONE at less than £40 each. The moulds still exist but the foundry have completely lost interest at making the odd bumper. Small batch engineering is no longer cheap and you are all driving or restoring "small batch engineering". If its on the internet it may not be the truth. sTeVeR
However it is VERY difficult and requires a little more thought than just replicating. The bumpers are made in 5 or 6 pieces. The problems are many. Firstly S/S work hardens when you wheel it to get the curved shape. This bad enough when you try to make the first curcature but the bumpers have some profiles which are double curvature, so when you try to make the second aspect it is incredibly difficult and very time consuming. Once you have made the component parts you then have to weld them all together, straighten them and grind and polish them to the correct shape. This requires 2 identical jigs to assemble and fabricate the parts you then have to "true" the end product. Do this 4 times "Precicely" to make a set and voila! Making the jigs alone is probably beyond the capabilities of most people and although I still own them you would need to make a LOT of bumpers out of them just to cover the cost of making them!
Given the obsession on these forums to save a few pence on things I doubt if it will ever happen on a small batch basis. I did a LOT of hours myself and employed an ex Rolls Royce time served coach builder at mates rates and given every builders labourer with little or no skill demands £200 a day in "ooooop north ingerland" what price would you like to pay. If I had the computer skills I would post a photo but as an "IT" luddite you will need to imagine the end results but they are stunning.
Continuing the good news, pre "M" series bumpers! Over the last 40 years not many weeks have gone by without a phone call asking for non existant Grantura/Vixen cast bumpers. Identifying a need I convinced a local foundry to make 4 completely different moulds to remake these. Lots of time and money invested and guess what? People wanted to buy the odd one, nobody wanted a new set complete and over the last 10 years I have sole exactly NONE at less than £40 each. The moulds still exist but the foundry have completely lost interest at making the odd bumper. Small batch engineering is no longer cheap and you are all driving or restoring "small batch engineering". If its on the internet it may not be the truth. sTeVeR
As ever Steve all valid ...is nice to see the rhythm and rhyme version of bespoke items for each car.... and I get enough of double compound curves for the screen frames surrounds I make....I always say to people attempting to convert triumph 2000 bumpers into 1/4 bumpers do 6 and you might get 4 good ones.
I must of pointed too many people your way for the Vixen bumpers, but I know where your coming from with those.
Adrian@
I must of pointed too many people your way for the Vixen bumpers, but I know where your coming from with those.
Adrian@
Steve Brabazon said:
Hi,
There are some photos of my Taimar which has been fitted with chrome bumpers here.
Steve
Click on thumbnail
Steve,There are some photos of my Taimar which has been fitted with chrome bumpers here.
Steve
Click on thumbnail
That picture sums up what I have been saying about fit...they do look cool on the car, in fact, more than cool, but IF I were to sell them then they would need to fit as the rubber ones do ..flush.
Adrian@
To back up what Adrian is saying, I made a set of fibreglass bumpers for my Red S which I use for sprinting. 4 of them weigh lots less than 1 rubber bumper.
When painted satin black they look 'right'
In order to make them fit correctly, I actually bolted the backplate half to the body, then offered the front shell up to it, trimmed correctly to fit, then bonded the 2 halves together.
Cheers Ian !
When painted satin black they look 'right'
In order to make them fit correctly, I actually bolted the backplate half to the body, then offered the front shell up to it, trimmed correctly to fit, then bonded the 2 halves together.
Cheers Ian !
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